Paedophiles are setting up orphanages overseas so fellow perverts can molest children during ‘awayday’ trips.

Registered offenders are exploiting a legal loophole to travel abroad for three days without telling the police, leaving them free to carry out attacks.

They are taking advantage of cheap air travel to visit countries such as the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria, where they have easy access to vulnerable children.

There have also been similar cases of abuse reported in Spain and France.

The fears are highlighted in a report today by an umbrella group of children’s charities. They say paedophiles who have not yet been convicted are setting up orphanages in countries, such as Albania, then abusing those they claim to help.

They then act as ‘a hub and a magnet’ to registered sex offenders who are allowed three days’ unsupervised travel under rules introduced in 2003.

The law, intended to stop sex tourists targeting children in Thailand and the Philippines, still allows them ample time to take short breaks in Eastern Europe.

Christine Beddoe, director of ECPAT, the group behind the report, said: ‘It’s not just about the Gary Glitters of this world. It’s also about very ordinary people.

‘One of the most disturbing things we see is the involvement of British nationals through orphanages, children’s homes and schools.

‘In Romania and Bulgaria children are living on the streets and can be targeted by sex offenders offering not even money but just a few trinkets or a supposedly “safe” place to stay.’